Car Buying Trends for Families

Between April 24 and May 1, 2019, Cars.com surveyed more than a thousand current and expecting mothers about their top needs and concerns when shopping for the perfect family car.

“More than 60 percent of women are the sole decision-maker when it comes to purchasing their next car,” said Jenni Newman, editor-in-chief of Cars.com. This includes mothers who are shopping for their next family car.

According to the survey, car dealers can improve the car-buying experience for moms and their families by:

• Giving practical information about vehicles that relate to their everyday life.


• Providing relevant amenities to keep children occupied in the car dealership.


• Sharing real-life reviews from other parents.

Additionally, the survey found that mom car shoppers want the ability to see and read vehicle ratings and reviews of cars by other parents.

“Moms in particular are practical car shoppers and want to know more than the cubic feet of space in a car,” said Newman. “They want to understand real-world applications of a vehicle, such as the number of grocery bags the trunk can hold, whether or not their stroller will fit, and how easy it is to get their kids in and out of the car.”

Respondents also said car dealers should focus on highlighting plugs, adapters and charging options that are available throughout the vehicle for their kids’ electronic devices. Explaining what vehicle safety features are available for younger passengers is also important.

There are many families from different financial backgrounds who are looking to purchase a vehicle. Some of them may not qualify for traditional vehicle financing.

Through our subprime auto finance programs, Credit Acceptance provides car dealers the ability to offer a credit approval to every customer regardless of credit history. To learn more about how you can become an enrolled dealer in our program, fill out the Become a Dealer form on our website.